We’ll never know how combinations through history became popular staples in our kitchens, conversations, and lives. There’s a science to knowing why certain combinations in life are so perfect, we can’t see them paired with anything else. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are carefully wrapped in plastic and smooshed in brown paper bags but never lose their deliciousness. Phrases like “it’s not how hard you fall, it’s how you get back up” or “God is good, all the time, and all the time God is good” have been taken from so many different situations but still applies to everyone. There’s a perfection combination the Bible speaks of that should be the foundation for every believer; faith and works.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
The Word of God is clear that since the fall of man, heaven has become an invisible place, and the spirit world has become a lot harder to reach through the limitations of our flesh. All our five senses demand proof of an invisible God but, faith comes in as the remedy to our unbelief. Without faith it is impossible to please God, Hebrews 11:6, because it is the key to living our lives as children of God. God claims those who live by the spirit as His very own, and those who live by the flesh are wasting precious time living a counterfeit life. Faith is the key!
“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17
It will never be enough to say we believe without the action to back it up. We can possibly ruin our testimony of redemption when we don’t act our freedom. As new creatures, we’ve adopted a new mind that says we are made in the image of God and that we are no longer bound by sin. Praying, fasting, a change in our walk and talk is evidence to others that we are not the same. It takes action! Believing God to be healed from cancer takes faith and action; pray, believe, and take your medicine. Perfect combination! Believing God for a home takes faith and action; pray, believe, and speak to a lending officer. Perfect combination! Believing God to save a lost family member takes action; pray, believe, and include them in family gatherings, love them no matter what. Perfect combination!
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26
Faith is at the center of it all. Life in and with God begins by believing, contrary to what our present reality may tell us. The perfect combination in a believer’s life is to believe God and then take action. Trust His will and then obey. We must refuse our own insecurities and lean on His strength. There are combinations based on kingdom principles created to guarantee our success. When we find ourselves struggling to believe, it means that somehow, we’ve gotten in the way of our faith. Perhaps our seeking Him has dwindled to nothing, or our worship and devotion has become too robotic. God gives us a perfection combination for these situations as well; get silent and dwell in His presence. Believe and then act. It works!